Stay-at-home mom's sweet treats are homemade hits

(FPG )

April 11, 2013|Nadia Sorocka nsorocka@tribune.com

It’s all in the details for Megan Oxford - from the custom aprons she wears to the top quality ingredients, flavors and designs she uses for her custom cakes and cupcakes as part of her online business Sweets & Savories.“I have been baking my whole life,” she said. “It started with my grandmother, who was a great baker and gardener, growing up in Vermont. She taught me how to do everything the old-fashioned way….from scratch.”Over the years Oxford enjoyed baking, but instead of pursuing it as a profession she took other roads while baking the whole time for friends and family.“I was always creative and artistic. My friends would always tell me you should be selling these cakes,” she said.Then in 2008 she decided to take her friends advice and start her own online custom cake business.Through her Facebook page, Facebook.com/pages/Sweets-Savories, clients can order custom cakes and cupcakes, which allows her to pursue her passion while also not pulling her away from her family members, who also act as her taste testers.“I am a stay-at-home mom to my two boys, Aiden, 4, and Liam, 2,” she said. “They love what mommy does and are very supportive along with my husband, Justin.”Oxford said her cakes stand out because they not only look pretty but they also taste good.“Often with sculpted cakes they look great, but don’t taste so good. They can be dry,” she said. “With mine you get both look and taste. I make sure that the cake is moist. I use tons of layers of cake and frosting to do this.”With her artistic background she is able to sculpt anything. Past cakes have included a Yoda head, high heel show and a marlin. She uses both fondant and classic icing to create works of art, she said.How does she come up with her recipes?She said she tries to make things she enjoys better. For example, her husband is a fan of Boston cream pie so she figured out a way to make the flavors better and bite size with her cupcakes.“I use real pudding and chocolate in my cupcakes…no instant pudding here,” she said.The same can be said for all her flavors from vanilla bean and Dutch chocolate to red velvet and dulce de leche. She also uses the best quality ingredients in her cakes that adds to the flavor.“I don’t have to skimp on ingredients to cut cost,” she said. “I also make my own frosting, which you can taste.”Recently, Oxford has taken the show on the road with her World of Beer Cupcake events that take place on various Tuesdays and holidays throughout the year.“I came to World of Beer here in Wellington with the idea,” she said. “Once they tasted the cupcakes they said yes.”On various Tuesdays Oxford sets up her display and brings a variety of flavors to the World of Beer, 2465 State Road 7, in Wellington. She posts the flavors that will be available on her Facebook page.“I have gotten a real following,” she said. “Sometimes people place orders online and come in and pick them up at World of Beer on Tuesdays.”Oxford said she hopes to one day open her own café where she can sell her cupcakes, but until then she said she is happy with where Sweets & Savories is headed.Call 561-800-7574 or email meganoxford@hotmail.com.